Siemens Mobility has completed an order of seven hydrogen-powered two-car Mireo Plus H trains for the German operator Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn (NEB).

They were built at Siemens Mobility’s factory in Krefeld, and after undergoing basic electrical and mechanical tests, the last of them was delivered to its test centre at Wegberg-Wildenrath near Mönchengladbach on 30 October.

More extensive tests are now being carried out at the Wegberg-Wildenrath Test and Validation Centre, including  electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and brake tests which are required for official approval of the trains. Their operational stability is also being tested, both statically and dynamically, before they are granted final approval by the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) and the German Federal Railway Authority (EBA).

Driver training  will also be carried out at the test centre starting next summer, to ensure they are full trained before the trains are rolled out to the Heidekrautbahn in the Berlin-Brandenburg metropolitan region next December.

The trains were ordered in 2022, and marked Siemens first order for a train hydroge-powered trains. Work is also progressing on an order for 31 battery-powered Mireo Plus B trains for the East Brandenburg network: The first of these is scheduled to leave the Siemens plant at Krefeld in the new year and will also be transferred to the Wildenrath centre for final testing.

The states of Berlin and Brandenburg are jointly funding a scientifically-supported pilot scheme for the use of the hydrogen-powered trains on the Heidekrautbahn. This aims to set up a regional, sustainable hydrogen infrastructure, including a hybrid power plant and a hydrogen storage facility.

The Heidekrautbahn will be the first network in the Berlin-Brandenburg region to operate hydrogen-powered trains, but eventually all train on the RB27 route will be exclusively use renewable and regionally produced green energy. Switching from diesel fuel to hydrogen on the Heidekrautbahn will reduce annual CO2 emissions by about three million kilograms and save 1.1 million litres of diesel.

Further information about the hydrogen project can be found here.

Albrecht Neumann, CEO Rolling Stock Siemens Mobility, said “Our first Mireo Plus H hydrogen fleet left our plant in Krefeld right on time and will be thoroughly put through its paces at our test centre in Wegberg-Wildenrath.

“The Mireo Plus H is a powerful hydrogen train that combines innovation with sustainability. Thanks to its long range, fast acceleration, and state-of-the-art technologies, it will set new standards for emission-free passenger transportation in the Berlin-Brandenburg metropolitan region.”

Detlef Bröcker, CEO Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn (NEB), said “We’re especially pleased that we are on schedule with the hydrogen trains.”

“This gives our employees sufficient time to familiarize themselves with the new trains and their innovative technology. Our customers in the Berlin and Brandenburg region can look forward to boarding new, environmentally friendly, hydrogen-powered trains on the Heidekrautbahn at the end of next year.”